Camera Labs Verdict

Good points
Very high resolution images at low sensitivities
4x optical zoom slightly longer than rivals
Large flip-out screen and optical viewfinder
Full manual controls and decent grip

Bad points
Relatively large and heavy for a compact
Screen is low resolution for its size
No live histogram facility
Rechargeable batteries not included

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Product Description

Canon PowerShot A640 Digital Camera 2.5in LCD 4x Optical Zoom 10 Megapixels Grey Ref 1287B001AA

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37946 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Canon
• Model: 1287B010AA
• Released on: 2006-09-10
• Dimensions: 1.76 pounds
• Display size: 2.5

Features

• Canon PowerShot A640 Digital Camera 2.5in LCD 4x Optical Zoom 10 Megapixels Grey Ref 1287B001AA

Manufacturer's Description
The PowerShot A640 bursts with creative options. Use its 10.0 Megapixels to shoot poster size prints with fine detail. Discover new possibilities with the vari-angle LCD and optional accessories.

10.0 Megapixels
Print high quality poster size images with all the incredible detail of 10.0 Megapixels. Crop and trim to create new compositions while keeping your photos extra large and razor sharp.

4x optical zoom
A 4x optical zoom lens gives you the flexibility to frame shots up close or at a distance without sacrificing quality.

2.5" Vari-angle LCD screen
The large 2.5" Vari-angle LCD twists in all directions - ideal for self portraits and creative shots at unusual angles. Night Display mode aids visibility in low light while a selectable Grid Line display helps with composition. A useful 3:2 ratio overlay indicates the printable area for standard photo prints.

Visionary Technology
Canon's DIGIC II image processor manages all camera functions and processes images at high speed for excellent responsiveness and extended battery life. iSAPS is a built-in assistant that uses scene information to optimize camera settings before the shot is taken.

Flexible focusing
Rely on 9-point AiAF to keep even off-centre subjects sharply in focus or use FlexiZone AF/AE to manually select a focus point.

Shooting modes and My Colors
21 shooting modes include a full creative zone for manual control and 10 Special Scene modes for tricky lighting conditions including Snow, Beach and Underwater. My Colors allows colour effects to be applied to images and movies.

Great indoor and night shots
A high-speed ISO 800 setting allows you to shoot correctly exposed images in low light conditions without using a flash. ISO 800 also enables shooting at higher shutter speeds reducing the risk of image blur.

Safety Zoom and Digital Tele-Converter
Safety Zoom offers extra zoom magnification without affecting image quality. Use the Digital Tele-Converter for extra reach on every shot - just like adding a tele-converter lens to the camera.

1cm Macro mode
Focus as close as 1cm and capture all the intricate detail of tiny subjects.

High quality movies
Shoot extra long 30fps VGA quality movies with full audio. View them on the camera's LCD screen or connect to a TV or PC for full screen playback.

Accessories
A complete range of optional accessories includes wide and tele-converter lenses and a slave flash. A waterproof case allows for underwater shooting at depths of up to 40 metres.

Box Contents

PowerShot A640 camera

Wrist Strap WS-200

32MB Memory Card

4-AA size Alkaline Batteries

AV Cable AVC-DC300

Interface Cable IFC-400PCU

User Manual Kit

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Customer Reviews

Excellent camera with great funcionality
After my 3 year old Nikon Coolpix started draining rechargeable batteries, I carried out some research of similar camera's within the same price range and chose the A640 and can only say it has been a delight to use. It looks complex with all the buttons and settings, but it can be a plug and play without even consulting the manual. The quality of my pictures have improved greatly over my previous camera (albeit it was only 3m mpx). Not being a massive camera user, this has really given me the bug and I enjoy trying the different settings and getting to know it's capabilities. The rotating screen is also a great idea for getting pics above a crowd etc. The pics are almost taken instantly unlike my previous camera, where it was at least 5 seconds after pushing the button. In addition it is ready to take the next pic within seconds. Like all camera packs, the memory card supplied only stores about 10 pics before it is full, so expect to purchase a larger memory card, but I won't hold that against it.

All in all an excellent camera and in my opinion, great value for money.

Better than a G7 - for me anyway
I bought my A640 for those days when my little Fuji F10 isn't enough (such as when the sun's out!) but when the full Pentax dSLR rig is too much to carry. The A640 satisfied my list of essentials and nice-to-haves:

* Optical viewfinder - essential for outdoor photography and tracking moving subjects, such as children;

* Semi-automatic modes, especially for depth-of-field control;

* SD memory and AA power, both of which already come with me when I travel, so no proprietary batteries and chargers, please;

* Swivelling LCD screen. Combines brilliantly with the lens's close-focus capability. Gets me pictures I wouldn't get any other way.

* 10Mp is probably more than I need, although it gives useful scope for cropping when I can't get close enough. There's a Superfine setting at 6Mp, so I can make my storage go further without compromising quality.

* It's black, so it looks like a proper camera, not a painted silver toy!

There are a few minor gripes. You can switch off the LCD and turn it face in to protect it, but you then lose all exposure information but for the two LEDs beside the viewfinder. There's room on the top plate for a little LCD status panel, which the old swivel-screen G5 and G6 had, but I suspect Canon is already afraid that the A640 will take sales from the G7 and the gap had to be maintained somehow.
I'd have preferred 28-112mm to the actual zoom range of 35-140mm, but I can understand why it's not that way. I can't see myself bothering with the expensive and bulky conversion lenses.
And the A640 has only one strap eyelet, in the top right corner, so there's no option to hang it round your neck. For a camera of this gravitas (in both senses) this is a pity. Nor does the wrist strap have a slider to tighten it around the wrist, so it's not as secure as I'd like.

So I'm well pleased with my A640. Incidentally, the chunky grip makes it an awkward fit in many standard cases - including Canon's own DCC-300 - but I've found mine goes snugly into a Tenba Travelite PS4, which can be picked up very cheaply and is handily compatible with LowePro Sliplok fittings. (Edit Dec 2007: I've since bought a Crumpler Crisp-E 600, which fits the A640 even better and is both better looking and easier to open than the Tenba.)

Fantastic Camera
This is a fantastic camera. Incorporating a whopping 10megapixel sensor and a 4x optical zoom lens with nine-point auto-focus, the A640's has an impressive specification. Its 21 scene modes and intelligent analysis programs ensure that users can take high-quality pictures. You also get full manual control, aperture and shutter priority modes which give you the flexibility to be as creative as you like. It also allows you to choose different focusing and metering modes. The combination of features is mind boggling but the on screen menu system is easy to use. You can of course also use the full auto mode which will do every thing for you.
To the rear a 2.5in LCD panel flips out and pivots to allow shooting from all manner of angles. You can easily shoot over the heads of crowds or frame waist-level shots. Or flip the LCD right round to take a picture of yourself!
Shots taken with the A640 may be compared not only with the very best compact cameras but also with digital SLRs. The quality is excellent. Images are extremely clean and crisp - definitely photographs as opposed to snaps.
You can buy extra lenses and even an underwater casing! I'd also recommend buying a light weight tripod for use in low-light and night time conditions, a good case and a good battery charger as the A640 takes 4 AA batteries. With a 2 gig memory stick you can take about 500 shots at superfine 3648x2736 resolution. The detail on shots at that resolution is amazing.
To sum up: the A640 is easy to use, powerful and takes great photographs.